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Sri Lankan fast bowler Ruchira Perera has been formally reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a suspect bowling action during the first Test against England.

His action had been the subject of intense media scrutiny during the Lord's Test, and umpires Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Daryl Harper studied video footage before deciding to bring the matter to the attention of Gundappa Viswanath, the match referee, at the end of the game . Viswanath immediately advised the ICC and the Sri Lankan management. "The reporting of any bowler at the highest level of the game is a serious matter which has to be handled with fairness and consideration to the player, his team and the opposing team," he said. "Both umpires took the opportunity to satisfy themselves fully that there was a concern with Ruchira Perera's bowling action. Their detailed report has been passed to the ICC and the Sri Lankan team management." Despite this, Perera will be allowed to continue playing while working with a specialist advisor. He is eligible for selection for the second Test at Edgbaston which starts on May 30. However, if Perera is reported again within 12 months of Viswanath's notification, he will have to work with an ICC-appointed advisor who will then report back to the ICC after three months. A third report within the year would lead to the ICC meeting to decide whether the bowler should be banned for a year. Dave Richardson, the ICC's cricket manager, admitted that television had brought bowlers' actions under the spotlight as never before. "If it wasn't for TV, guys like Perera would have gone through their career without any questions," he told Sky Sports. "It is not easy to see with the naked eye if he is throwing. There's only the odd occasion when they thought he might be throwing so that's why they got the TV footage."

Perera is the fourth Sri Lankan whose action has been reported to the ICC. In 1996 Muttiah Muralitharan was cited after a public showdown in Australia and two years later Kumar Dharmasena was named. Both were subsequently cleared. Last August Suresh Perera, who is no relation to Ruchira, was reported but cleared by a Sri Lankan panel.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd